Deep well and cistern automatic pumping plant



March 3, 1942. T. s. HARRIS 2,275,364

DEEP WELL AND CISTERN AUTOMATIC PUMPING PLANT y Filed May 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 3, 1942.

T. s. HARRIS` DEEP WELL AND CISATEVRN AUTOMATIC PUMPING PLANT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1939 Patented Mar. 3, 1942 OFFICE` t DEEP WELL AND CISTERN AUTOMATIC PUMIING PLANT Thaddeus S. Harris, Waverly, Ill.

Application May 29, 1939, Serial No. 276,394

9 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 2) My invention relates to a deepwell pump of the type in which a high pressure booster jet is used to help lift the water, and has particular reference to means whereby the same pump that supplies well water may also be utilized to automatically supply a cistern water service system.

The control unit here described may be regarded as an improved form of the duplexvautomatic valve described in my Patent No. 1,606,530 which was issued November 9, 1926.

My present invention also is closely related to the construction described in my application for Patent No. 256,713, led February 16, 1939, on Deep well pump, and as further described in my application No. 266,314, filed April 6, 1939,

patented June 24, 1941, No. 2,246,678. The advantages ofv the present construction are that it is more compact with the dilferent control units all operated by a single operator element, and that -it can be utilized to supply cistern water, or Water from some other source as well as from ,a deep well.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a complete pumping plant with the automatic ccntrol unit shown in longitudinal section.

Figure 2 shows a similar sectional view of one end only of the unit when rotated through 90 degrees.

Figure 3 shows a cross section on the line a--b of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a complete pumping plant for deep wells only, with the control unit shown in longitudinal section.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the right end of the control unit of Figure 4, but rotated 90 degrees about its longitudinal axis.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the complete pumping plant, with a modied form of deep well control unit.

Figure '7 illustrates a sectional view of a control unit that is identical with that of Figure 6 except that a diaphragm operator element is used instead of a plunger.

Referring to Figure 1, a suction type force pump I is operated by the motor 2. Motor 2 is controlled by the pressure switch `3 connected to the pump discharge line 6, and also by the switch 3 connected to the tank '1. Switches 3, 3 are connected together in multiple in one of the power feed wires 4. The other feed wire 5 is connected direct to motor 2.

The discharge pipe 6 extends from the discharge chamber of pump I to the control unit port 20. Storage tank 'I is for well water, while tank. 8 is for cistern water.

The automatic control unit, which is shown in section, has theintake control chamber 9 and the main discharge control chamber ID with the supplementary discharge chamber I5. Cylinder II connects chambers 9 and I0 and has the plunger I2 disposed in it. Valve rod I2 is fixed to plunger I2 and extends to the intake an discharge chambers.A

The intake chamber 9 is connected to the pump intake by pipe 9. The well water port 6 provides for connecting chamber 9 to the Well 6 by `pipe 3', this passage being controlled by valve I I', which is loosely mounted on rod I2. Sleeve I3 is fixed to rod I2', and a spring I4 is disposed to press valve II against it.

Port l5 provides for connecting chamber 9 to the cistern I5 by pipe I5". this passage, being also loosely mounted on rod I2', with spring I6 pressing it against sleeve I3.

Rod I 2 extends through packing gland I'I, and is xed to plunger I2, with spring I8 disposed in cylinder II against plunger I2. A by-pass passage IS connects cylinder I I to the intake chamber 9.

The well water discharge port 2| from chamber Ill is connected by pipe 'I' to the tank Ivwith the check valve 22 preferably connected into pipe l. Valve 23 is xed to plunger I2 and controls port 2I. The jet discharge port 24 has the pipe 25 connecting it to the jet of the booster unit 24". Valve 25 is Xed to plunger I2 and controls port 24. Port 26 from the supplementary chamber Ill is connected by pipe 2l to tank 8, and is controlled byvalve 29. Valve 29 is flexibly mounted,` beingjheld open when rod I2 engages it. f

The numbering of Figure 1 also applies to Figures 2 and 3.

. The operation of the automatic duplex pumping plant as described inFigures l, 2, and 3 is as follows:

Switches 3, 3 are preferably set to open at about 40 pounds of pressure. Spring I8 is adjusted to break when the pressure differential on y plunger I2 becomesabout 55 pounds per square inch. The plunger then normally takes the position shown, forcing all valves closed except the cistern intake valve I6 and the discharge valve 29 which remainfopen. Then if switch 3, because of a drop in pressure in tank 8, closes and starts the pump, water is at rst vdrawn from the cistern andrdelivered to the cistern water tank 8. Because of the by-pass passage I9 the Valve I 6 controlsY pressure under plunger I2 drops to about 5 or 10 pounds of vacuum as soon as the pump starts, the exact pressure varying slightly under different conditions. This release of pressure under plunger I2, which pressure may result from leakage past the plunger, provides that plunger I2 is forced to the left whenever the discharge pressure on its right side becomes about 45 pounds per square inch, supposing there is 10 pounds of vacuum under it. Since switch 3 opens at 40 pounds of pressure it results that when the pressure in tank 8 reaches 40 pounds the pump stops without any movement of the plunger I2, provided switch 3 is open. If switch 3 is also closed then the pump continues to put cistern water into tank 8 until the pressure in the discharge passage reaches 45 pounds, then plunger I2 starts to move to the left. A slight movement opens the jet passage valve 25 putting the jet into operation, while a further movement of the plunger closes valves 29 and I6 and opens valves 23 and II to allow the pump to draw well water and deliver it to tank l, until the opening of switch 3 stops the pump.

In case the pump is at first put into operation by the closing of the well water switch 3 it still draws cistern water at rst until the discharge pressure Causes the shift as has been described. Means are thus provided whereby the pump can reprime itself from the cistern. This insures that plenty of water can be drawn to rell the well piping in case or" any leakage 'and to also build up the required jet pressure. All the valves controlled by plunger I2 are disposed to operate in a definite sequence, with the well water discharge Valve 23 being the last to open, so that a slight movement of plunger i2 to the right practically closes it. In this manner it is provided that, even with the tank pressure at zero, still the discharge pressure will always be maintained sufficient to operate the booster jet.

Referring to Figure 4, the pump I has its intake connected directly to the booster unit 24 by pipe Q', into which is connected the check Valve The automatic pressure control and repriming unit I Ia has the main discharge chamber I Ila which is connected to the pump discharge chamber by port 2G and pipe E. The jet discharge port 24a is connected to the jet 8 of the booster unit 24 by pipe 25 and has the control valve 25. A cylinder l I forms an extension of chamber lila and has the plunger I2 disposed in it,wth valve 25 xed to it. A spring I8 is disposed against plunger i2.

The well water discharge port 2l is connected to tank l by pipe 7', and is controlled by valve 23 xed on plunger i2 by rod 23. Port 2| has the passage Il connecting it to the supplementary discharge chamber I 3. Port 25 opens out of chamber i and is controlled by Valve 29 which is supported between rod 23' and spring 20'. Port 26 is connected by pipe 2|' to the intake passage to the pump. Cylinder II is connected by pipe 2l" to pipe 2I, and thence to the vmain intake pipe 9.

The numbering of Figure 4 also applies to Figure 5.

Referring to Figure 6, the pump I has the booster unit 24 connected directly to the -pump intake by pipe S. The pump discharge chamber is connected by pipe 4 to the discharge chamber I0b of the automatic control unit IIb'. The chamber Ib has the jet port 24h which is connected to the jet 33 by pipe 25. Cylinder 3I is disposed as an extension of discharge chamber Ib and has the plunger I2 which is supported by spring I8. Valve rod 32 is carried by' plunger I2, and has lixed to it the valve 25 to control port 24h.

A second and main discharge port 2l connects chamber IIIb to chamber 33. The valve 231)` controls port 2| being supported by spring 34 to lift it when released by link 35. Valve 23h is controlled by the link 35 which is slidably mounted to rod 32, with spring 36 being disposed between it and a stop on rod 32. Chamber 33 has the port 2lb by which it is connected to tank 1 by pipe 'l'. Another and smaller port 25h connects chamber 33 to a vpassage 2l', which extends to the intake passage to the pump. A valve 29D controls port 26h, being supported by the stem of valve 23h and spring 31. A passage 2 I connects passage 2I to the cylinder 3I back of plunger I2.

The booster unit 24 has the jet 30 and has a cylinder 4D connected to the jet jassage 25. The plunger 4I has the cone shaped rod 42, which extends through the jet orice and the expansion tube 43. A spring 44, supports plunger 4I and a by-pass passage 45 extends from the lower portion of the cylinder 40 to the main intake passage, at a point above the check valve 46.

The description of Figure 6 applies also to Figure '7 except that the cylinder 3| and plunger I2 of Figure 6 are replaced by diaphragm chamber 50, and diaphragm 5I, with the by-pass 2| omitted, chamber 35 being open to atmospheric pressure through port 52.

The operation of the control and pumping units shown in Figures 6 and 7 is essentially the same as has been described for Figures 4 and 5. The plunger I2 is moved to the right whenever the discharge pressure builds up to a point that overcomes the pressure of spring I8, the space under plunger I2 being relieved of pressure by the by-pass passage 2|l which communicates with pump intake passage 3, by means of passage 2 I As plunger I2 moves to the right, it first opens the jet passage valve 25, allowing water, which is at first drawn from the tank 1, to be delivered to the jet passage, to build up pressure to operate the plunger 4I of the automatic booster jet unit 24. As the jet plunger 4I is moved downward, the tapered control rod 42 is moved to open the jet nozzle, so that the main intake pipe becomes filled and the required boosting effect is developed. As the pressure in chamber Ib of the control unit increases, the lifting of arm 35 allows the main discharge valve 23h to open and the repriming valve 29h to close. The pump is then in full normal operation. Spring 34 must of course be strong enough to open valve 23o against the discharge pressure, while spring 31 is strong enough to close the small valve 29h against tank pressure, while the pump is operating.

In the automatic jet unit, the passage 45 from cylinder 40 to pipe 4U prevents leakage which occurs past plunger 4I from escaping directly to the well, yet, in operation, the movement of plunger 4I becomes influenced by the pressure of the surrounding water in the well, being communicated through the passage 45, so that when the water level is low the Volume of the jet flow automatically increases to take care of the greater required lift at the low water level.

I claim as new:

l. In a deep well and cistern automatic pumping plant the combination of a suction type pump, an electric motor operably connected to 4said pump, a Well water storage tank, a cistern `water shortage tank, a well, a cistern, an automatic valve control unitI said unit comprising, a tubular discharge control chamber, an intake valve chamber iixed to said discharge control chamber, a plunger disposed in said control chamber, a spring disposed in that portionV of said control? chamber that is adjacent to said intake valve chamber to support said plunger, a passage extending from this. end of said control'chamber to said intakevalve chamber, a discharge passage extended from the opposite end of said control chamber to said pum-p, a deliveryl passage extended from this end of said control chamberl to said well water tank, a second delivery passage from this end of said control chamber, said passagev being extended to said cistern water tank,'a third delivery passage' from this end of said. control chamber, said passage being extended downwardly to said well, a control valve in each of said delivery passages, each of said valves being operably connected to said plunger, a passage extending from said intake valve chamber to said pump,

va passage extending from said intake valve chamber downwardly to said well, a passage extending from said intake valve chamber to said cistern, a

control valve in each of said well and cistern passages, each of said valves being operably connected to said plunger in said control chamber, a booster jet nozzle disposed to discharge upwardly into said well passage, said jet nozzle being connected to said passage that is downwardly extended from said control chamber to said well, a source of electric power comprising two terminal conductors, an automatic pressure controlled switch, said switch being hydrostatically connected to said well water tank, a second pressure controlled switch, said second switch being hydrcstatically connected to said discharge passage from said pump to said control chamber, said switches being electrically connected in multiple between one terminal of said motor and one of said terminal conductors, the remaining terminal conductor being connected to the remaining terminal of said motor.

2. In a jet type deep well pump the combinaf tion of, a pump, a storage tank, a well, an intake passage extended downwardly from said pump to said well, a booster jet unit in said well, said unit comprising a conical delivery tube with its larger end connected to said intake passage, a jet chamber xed to said delivery tube, a jet nozzle opening from said chamber and disposed to discharge into the small end of said delivery tube, a cylinder extended from said jet chamber, a plunger disposed in said cylinder, a spring disposed under passage from this side of said control chamber to said intake passage, a discharge passage from said pump to that side of said control chamber opposite to said spring, a main discharge passage from this side of said control chamber to said storage tank, a cone shaped valve in said passage, said valve being operably connected to said plunger, a. passage extending from this side of said control chamber to said jet passage which is upwardly extended'from: said jet unit, a valve. in said passage, said valve being operably connected to said plunger, a passage extending from said tank tosaid intake passage, a valve controlling said passage, said valve being'operably connected to said plunger.

3. The combination of a suction type force pump, a well, an intake passage from said pum-p to said well, a booster jet unit connected into said passage, a main discharge passage from said pump, a discharge passage fromrsaid pump to the jet of said jet booster unit, rcontrol valves in each of said passages, a cylinder connected to the discharge chamber of said pump, said cylinder containing a 4plunger which is operably connected to said discharge control valves, a spring disposed under said plunger, in one portion of said cylinder, and a passage from this portion of. said cylinder to said intake passage.

4. In a duplex automatic pumping plant, a

' duplex automatic valve control unit` comprisinga tubular control chamber, an intake valve chamber xed to said control chamber, a plunger disposed in said control chamber, a centrally vdisposed port from said intake valve chamber, a port in each end of said intake valve chamber, valves controlling each of said end ports, said Valves being operably connected to said plunger, a spring disposed in that portion of said control chamber adjacent to said intake valve chamber to support said plunger, a passage from this rportion of said control chamber to said intake Valve chamber, a main inlet port into the opposite end of said control chamber, three delivery ports from this end of said control chamber, a control valve in each of said ports, said valves being operably connected to said plunger, and one of said valves being provided with a suitably tapered guide member, said valves being connected to operate in a denite sequence as said plunger moves against said spring.

5. In a jet booster type deep well pumping plant, means for automatically controlling repriming and flow to the jet, said means comprising the combination of a pump, means for operating said pump, a storage reservoir, an intake passage extended downwardly from said pump, a control unit comprising a tubular control chamber, a plunger disposed in said control chamber, a discharge passage extended from said pump to one end of said control chamber, a spring disposed in the opposite end of said control chamber to support said plunger, a passage from this opposite end of said control chamber to said intake passage, a repriming passage extending from said storage reservoir to said intake passage, avalve controlling said passage, said valve being operably connected to said plunger, a main discharge port from that portion of said control chamber which is opposite said spring, a cone shaped valve member controlling said port, said valve member being operably connected to said plunger, a booster jet nozzle disposed to -discharge into said intake pipe, a -passage connecting said jet nozzle to said discharge passage, a Valve in said passage, said valve being connected to said plunger.

6. In a pumping plant means for automatically repriming the pump, said means comprising, a pump, means for operating said pump, a storage reservoir, an intake passage extended downwardly from said pump, a control unit comprising a tubular control chamber, a plunger in said chamber, a discharge passage from said pump to one end of said control chamber, a main discharge port from this end of -said control chamber, a

cone shaped valve in said passage, said valve being connected to said plunger, a, spring disposed in the opposite end of said control chamber to support said plunger, a passage from this portion of said, control chamber to said intake passage, a repriming passage extending from said storage reservoir to said intake passage, a valve controlling said passage, said Valve being operably connected to said plunger.

'7. In a duplex deep well and cistern automatic pumping plant, a deep well control unit, comprising a tubular control chamber, a plunger disposed in said chamber, a spring disposed in one end of said chamber to support said plunger, a port opening outwardly from this end of said chamber, a port opening into the opposite end of said chamber, also two ports opening outwardly from this end of said chamber, a control Valve in each of said two ports, said valves being operably connected to said plunger, a passageway and housing fixed to said chamber, said passageway having an intake and a discharge port, a valve controlling said passageway, said valve being operably connected with said plunger, all of said valves being so disposed as to operate in a definite sequence when the plunger moves.

8. In a pumping plant, means for automatically repriming the pump, said means comprising, a pump, means for operating said pump, a storage reservoir which is at approximately the same horizontal level as said pump, an intake passage extending downwardly from said pump, a control unit comprising a closed chamber, a movable partition across said chamber, a discharge passage from said pump to one side of said chamber, a main discharge port from this side of said chamber, a valve in said passage, said valve being connected to said movable partition, a spring disposed in the opposite side of said chamber to support said movable partition, a port opening out of this side of said chamber, a repriming passage extending from said storage reservoir to said intake passage, a Valve controlling said passage, said valve being operably connected to said movable partition.

9. In a deep well pumping plant, the combination of a suction type force pump, means for operating said pump, a primary discharge passage from said pump, a pressure relief valve in said passage, an intake passage extended downwardly from said pump, a booster jet unit connected into said passage, a secondary discharge passage from said pump to the jet of said booster unit, a cylinder, one end of which opens into said secondary passage at a point near said jet, a, plunger in said cylinder, a jet orice control rod fixed to said plunger and extended to control said jet orice, a spring disposed in said cylinder against said plunger opposite to said control rod, and a passage frorn this end of said cylinder to said intake plpe.

THADDEUS S. HARRIS. 

